Leviathan Awakens: Acrylic, Spray, and Leather Paint on Canvas. 48 x 48 inches
For Go, his works pay homage to artistic Royalty, including Da Vinci, Picasso, and Jeff Koons. While Go is primarily Chinese and Filipino, one may even conclude that his Italian heritage stands out the most through his paintings, which echo religious topics painted by Renaissance Masters like Da Vinci, Raphael, and Botticelli. Fast forward a few centuries, many of Go’s works are in direct dialogue with “Triple Hulk Elvis” of Jeff Koons, and his portraits of angels mimic a brash confidence only found in the portraits of Picasso. In paying tribute to the artists who came before him, Go is respectfully enabling these artists to increase the longevity of their legacies as well.
When it comes to legacy, Go often creates parodies or derivative works of popular stories and folklore. Go’s work “Aslan” depicts a Pegasus-lion hybrid that resembles the savior of the Narnia Chronicles, imbued with energy from neon spray techniques. His piece “Leviathan Awakens” pays homage to the legend of Leviathan, a 7-headed sea monster often mentioned in ancient texts such as the Bible. Go’s work “Prayer to St. Gabriel the Archangel” shows a triumphant angelic knight riding a unicorn Pegasus with triumphant festivity in a sea of cerulean blue clouds.
Legacy indeed, is something that artist Sean Go values, coming from a prominent family in the Philippines. With his grandparents who were immigrants, Go saw the value of how poverty could lead to wealth accumulation in a few generations. Go’s influences of national artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz shows in his abstract textures, as well as his structural textures reminiscent of Ang Kiukok bone drawings. However, it was the death of a close friend at the age of 28 that catalyzed his journey as a full-time artist. As Go says “Art is a way for people to come together and rally along a common set of experiences and emotions... to ultimately connect with each other, and ... everyone just wants to be loved at the end of the day.” Go’s sentiments are at times bittersweet and soft, and at times raw and primal with anger. Sometimes, the mood of his works resemble his emotional state, which ultimately is optimistic. Go believes that art should inspire people to reflect and take action to improve oneself or to take action for a cause that one believes in.
While many people question the use of art today, art remains an effective medium to affect social change. By asking questions, juxtaposing ugly but real truths, and using potent symbolism to carve a meaningful narrative, artist Sean Go is the new prince of pop Art.
